Abd al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn Masudi (d. 956), was an Arab historian, geographer, and philosopher. Born in Baghdad, he traveled in Spain, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, and China and spent his last years in Syria and Egypt. His Muruj adh-Dhahab (meadows of gold), is a compilation of his travel observations and studies. It embraces social and literary history, discussions of religions, and geographic descriptions.